Down: Pacific Coast Feather Comfort Core soft pillow (top), $70, Linens 'n Things, www.int.com for store locations. The 100 percent goose-down fill of this pillow's outer chamber is submitted to a special cleaning process to remove dust and impurities. Its inner chamber's fill of down and feathers provides the right amount of support to lift stomach-sleepers' heads enough to keep the spine straight. Also available in medium and firm. Pros: Thirty-day guarantee; luxuriously soft. Cons: Big initial investment.

Alternative: Terra Verde wool-filled light pillow (middle), $70, 212-925-4533. Organically grown wool fills this pillow and provides light support for stomach sleepers with extreme allergies or chemical sensitivities. Also available in an extra fill for more support. Pros: Nonallergenic and breathable; resists mold, mildew, dust mites, and bacteria. Cons: Big initial investment; wool flattens over time (expect it to flatten considerably in about three years); cannot be laundered.

Synthetic: PrimaLoft stomach-sleeper pillow, $28, www.landsend.comor 800-356-4444. This man-made down equivalent provides firm, hypoallergenic support. Pros: Machine-wash and -dry. Cons: Not as fluffy as down.